The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-07

hsiuc the WOnueT Lnht ulfeu the
souls Of these old mariners as they
sailed onward day after day
without an evening and without
a night. Then came the icebergs,
floating down, like mountain ranges,
upon him, and he wore ship and
sailed steadily southwark, still
searching along the coast for the
northwest passage, until he came to
Chesapeake bay. Nineteen years
later, IN 1917, Sebastian entered the
bay, to which century later Henry
Hudson gave his name, and thence
In subsequent voyages, explored the
coast OF South America, as far as
La Plata. Here is a navigator in
deed, worthy son Of fearless sire,
and his face is well worth mo-
ment's notice.
SEBASTIAN CABOT.
The great fact to remember in
this connection is, that it was in vir-
tue OF these discoveries Of the two
Cabots, father and son, that England
laid claim to all, or nearly all. of the
North American continent. Strange
that 10 all their searching they ever
found the mouth of the st. Law
renee. We now come to that.
During all these years France had
not bestirred herself to find new
worlds or claim a share of those al
ready .oynd. But at last Francis |.
aroused himself and said: "Shall
Spain, Portugal and England divide
all America between them and give
me no share2 | would like to see
the clause in Father Adams will.
which bequeaths that vast inhcri-
lance TO them"
There Was at that time in Francs a
Florentine, skilled in navigation,
named Verazzano, and him Francis
sent forth to make discoveries. He
landed first at Chesapeake bay, and
then, sailing northward along the
same course which the Cabots had
previously sailed, named the whole
country, whose coast he had skirted
only, New France, and claimed il for
Francis. AT this point we see the
conflicting claims OF France and
England spring up side by side, and
the long and bloody wars between
them for the possession of tho CONT
nent is seen. In 1923 the strife real
ly beguu-a strife that never ceased
until Wolfe brought it to close,
232 years after, on the Plains OF
Abraham.
BY this voyage Of Varazzano the
spirit Of discovery was quickened
throughout France. Hopes vast,
vague and brilliant were entertained.
The Court of Paris, the manufactu-
rers of Lyons and the merchants of
the seaports, all thrilled TO the same
wild dream. A passage to India
could be found; the ships of France
could sail by safe and shortened
course to Cathay; and a new France
could be builded up beyond the At
lantic aud become the medium OF a
golden trade between the mother
country and the rich Orient world.
With these dreams OF commerce and
OF gain nobler visioh was blended.
The Lutheran heresy was di.
vorciDg all Northern Europe
from the Papal see, and into
the very veins OF France, even the
deeper heresy of Calvin was porting
the poison OF its virus. The church
looked aghast at tho shrinking
boundaries Of her power and her
thousand alters blazed hot with holy
zeal. What the church lost at home
must be made good abroad the loss
she had met through heresy in the
old world must be requited by bring
ing the pagan in6dels Of the new
world within her sacred fold. Thus
human seldshness aud heavenly piety
united their forces for a great en-
deav0r.
81. Malo was then an ancient town
Grim and stark its battlements of
ragged stone jutted far out into the
roughened sea, stronghold OF pri-
vateers and pirates aud the rough
nursing mother Of hardy mariners.
Among It's brave seamen aud pilots
was one y acqucs Cartier, by name
sharp OF feature, keen OF eye, and
with courage TO face all peril. His
portrait still hangs in his native
town, and you can see a copy OF it
should you visit it.
JACQUES CARTIER.
This man was chosen by the king
TO make the great endeavor. Ga the
"a Of April, 1884, he sailed away.
lie stcered straight Tor Newiound-
land, passed through the Straits Of
Belle Isle; crossed the Gull entered
the Bay OF Chalours; landed aud
planted cross at Gaspo, and pushed
on Gill he saw the shores OF Anti.
coat, confident that he was on the
direct road TO China. Then as au.
tumn had come aud gales begaa 10
blow he sailed back to France, car.
rying with him two Indian boys,
which he by foul treachery had
seized.
The next year, commissioned
airesh, ho sailed again. On May 10,
1853, he aud his crews assembled in
the Cathedral at St. Malo, confessed
their sins, heard mass, aud with the
blessing Of the holy church upon
them, sailed again, reached in good
time the mouth OF the st. Lawrence,
aud on August 10, lS33-a
date never to be forgotten by
Canadiaus-gaye il its name.
To ascend the great river
for 600 miles without a pilot, was no
light undertaking, but favored by
fortune or hcayen-as he claimed
he succeeded. September LIST he
reached the gloomy entrance OF the
Sagucnay, passed the Isle aux Cou.
drcs, aud the lofty nights OF Cape
Tourmentc aud came to anchor at
last between the shore aud a richly
wooded island, whose trees hung
black with grapes, aud which, there.
fore, he named the Island Of Bachus,
but which you call the Isle Of Or.
leans. The natives received him
kindly, as they did all white men at
their coming, until, by their injustice
and cruelty they gave them cause 20
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